Page 69 of Wolf of Ashes
Vanguard takes a deep breath. “A package needs to be delivered by train from New York to Boston.”
I try to hide my immediate grimace. Boston is headquarters to assassins. I really don’t want to stir up a hornet’s nest there.
Vanguard is still speaking. “It’s an extremely valuable package. Multiple parties will do anything to get their hands on it. Put simply: Many supernaturals want to use it while others will be determined to destroy it.”
Diavolo’s forehead is creased. “Sending it by train doesn’t seem like the best idea. Surely, you’d do better with, say, a helicopter.”
Vanguard shakes his head. “Too easy to shoot down.”
“What about translocating it?” Diavolo asks, and I’m sure he was building up to this with his helicopter comment.
Vanguard’s jaw clenches. “There is not a single warlock I trust enough with this package to leave it alone with them. If Jonah had that skill, I’d choose translocation in a heartbeat. But I trust nobody else to that extent.”
Jonah speaks up. “A warlock with ulterior motives could move the package anywhere and we’d never find it again.”
Diavolo shakes his head. “But a train—”
“Is filled with human passengers who will make a supernatural attack more difficult. Also large enough that I can have a whole team scattered throughout the relevant car. One member of the team will be a warlock who will ensure the humans who step on board can’t be mind-controlled.”
I don’t love the idea of a team any more than I love the idea of a train, but I hold my tongue. It also seems that Diavolo’s compulsion power will be no use to us.
“Our team will control the entrances and exits, and we’ll have supernaturals following in the sky to ward off any attack from there,” Jonah says. “Any overt magical combat will expose the supernatural community to humans. Even our enemies won’t risk that.”
“I assume you’ll both be there, too,” I say.
“I will be,” Jonah replies. He continues more slowly. “Vanguard will be at the station when we leave, but he won’t travel with us.”
I’m surprised by this. “Surely, you would be best placed to protect the package, whatever it is?” I say to Vanguard.
He gives a heavy exhale. “This package is being sent to a powerful supernatural who, despite their agreement to secure the package where it can’t be found again, will try to kill me on the spot should I attend in person. In addition…”
He swallows and if I didn’t know better, I’d say his voice is filled with sadness. “Once the package is on the train, it’s better if I have no further association with it.”
His sudden show of emotion throws me, especially since it feels genuine. I consider Vanguard carefully, wondering about his personal investment in the outcome of this undertaking.
I ask a question I’m not sure I want the answer to. “Is this job for the Ultima Nostra, or is it foryou?”
Vanguard’s jaw clenches. “It’s for me. But if you get the package to its destination, I will give you a direct path into the inner circle.”
I continue to consider him warily. “We’re complete strangers. If this mission is so important to you, why would you risk trusting us?”
“Because you survived my sister’s spell,” he says.
I’m even more cautious now. “Why is that important?”
He rises to his feet and the snake tattoos appear to shift across his chest. “My sister wants to destroy this package. Make no mistake: She will come after it. You have the powers needed to stop her.”
Hmm. Twice now, Vanguard has indicated that he and his sister are enemies.
Which means she could be my ally. It will be a shame to fight her and put her offside. But that’s a problem I can deal with later.
For now, gaining an understanding of all the current players in the empire—and outside of it—can only benefit me.
I look to the keeper, a final check that he’s willing to go along with the mission. He doesn’t object. Merely inclines his head.
“We’re in,” I say to Vanguard.
“Good,” he replies. “Meet us the night after tomorrow, 6p.m.sharp, at the Moynihan Train Hall, Penn Station.”
